Missing Hawaii? 21 Movies to Watch

Are you missing Hawaii right now?

With everyone sheltering in place and restrictions on travel, movies are one way to bring the islands to your living room.  In the past century, hundreds of films have been filmed in Hawaii, starting with HAWAIIAN LOVE and THE SHARK GOD, filmed in 1913.  Many early classics were filmed here, starring headliners like Bing Crosby, Elvis, Frank Sinatra and Shirly Temple.  And let's not forget about Hawaii's legendary surf and the surfers who inspire us all.

Some films may surprise you, like Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and Planet of the Apes, which all used Hawaii as a backdrop for a fictional setting.  Others have a story rooted in Hawaii and the island culture and provide a thought-provoking look at life in the islands, like Kuleana and the Descendants.  For anyone wanting to take a deep dive, the Hawaii Film Office has a summary of films made either partially or completely in Hawaii from 1913-2006.

So with that in mind, here are 21 movie picks from different genres and decades to transport you to Hawaii and where to stream them:

1. 50 FIRST DATES, Oahu (2003)

Starring: Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore

Stream: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu, YouTube

2. ALOHA, Oahu (2015)

Starring Bradley Cooper & Rachel McAdams

Stream: Amazon, Google Play,  iTunes, Vudu

3. BIG EYES

Starring Amy Adams, Christoph Waltz

Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Vudu

4. BLUE CRUSH, Oahu (2002)

Starring Kate Bosworth & Faizon Love

Stream: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu

5. BLUE HAWAII, Kauai (1961)

Starring Elvis Presley, Joan Blackman, Angela Landsbury

Stream: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu

6. THE DESCENDANTS, Kauai and Oahu (2011)

Starring George Clooney

Stream: Amazon, Cinemax, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu and YouTube.

7. FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL, Oahu (2008)

Starring Jason Seigel, Kirsten Bell, Mila Kunis

Stream: Amazon, Cinemax, Google Play, iTunes, Vudu and YouTube

8. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, Oahu (1953)

Starring: Montgomery Clift, Frank Sinatra, Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr and Donna Reed; Oahu.

Stream: Amazon, Google Play, Vudu

9. THE ENDLESS SUMMER (1996)

Documentary by Bruce Brown, with Mike Hynson, Robert August, Lord "Tally Hoo" Blears

Stream: Amazon, Google Play, iTunes

10. JURASSIC PARK, Maui/Kauai (1993)

Starring: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum

Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu

11. JUST GO WITH IT, Maui (2011)

Starring: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston

Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu

12. KULEANA (2017)

Stream: Amazon

13. LILO & STITCH, Kauai (2002)

This animated film features voices of Daveigh Chase, Jason Scott Lee, & Tia Carrere

 Stream: Amazon, Disney+, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu

14. MOLOKAI: The True Story of Father Damien,  Molokai and Oahu (1998)

Starring David Wenham, Sam Neil, Peter O’Toole

Stream: Amazon

15. NERVOUS LAUGHTER

Follows some of the best surfers on Maui as they set out to conquer the waves at Peahi

Watch on RedBull.com

16. NORTH SHORE, 1987

Starring Matt Adler, Nia Peeples, John Philbin, Gerry Lopez

Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu

17. PEARL HARBOR, Oahu (2001)

Starring: Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Kate Beckinsale, Jennifer Garner

Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu

18. PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN: At World's End, Maui (2007)

Starring: Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom, Kiera Knightly

Stream: Amazon, Disney+, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu

19 . RIDING GIANTS, Maui (2004)

Starring: Brian Keaulana, Darrick Doerner, Dave Kalama

Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu

 20. SOUTH PACIFIC, Kauai (1958) 

20th Century Fox; Rossano Brazzi and Mitzi Gaynor; Kauai.

Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu

21. SOUL SURFER, Oahu (2005)

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Massi Furlan, AnnaSophia Robb

Stream: Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, Vudu

Aloha and Enjoy!